http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking 1 (2) Chargers 10-2-0 When it's all said and done, LaDainian Tomlinson's 2006 season is going to have to rank among the best in NFL history. 2 (1) Colts 10-2-0 After losing two of their last three games, the Colts are suddenly in a race for the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. 3 (6) Cowboys 8-4-0 Everything seems to be clicking for the Cowboys, who are as hot as any team in the NFL right now. Switch QBs, the new guy goes 5-1. Switch kickers, the new guy boots a 46-yard game-winner. 4 (5) Bears 9-3-0 The bad news is Rex Grossman's QB rating against the Vikings was 1.3. The good news is that was up from his 0.0 rating at the end of the third quarter. 5 (4) Patriots 9-3-0 Of all the players who have been the core contributors to New England's three titles, Mike Vrabel might be the most overlooked. He's solid, versatile and makes big plays. 6 (3) Ravens 9-3-0 Don't underestimate the loss of return specialist B.J. Sams to the Ravens. He was fifth in the league in kickoff returns and seventh in punt returns. That's just not something you replace easily. 7 (10) Saints 8-4-0 The ''Reggie Bush has arrived'' moment came in the second quarter when he caught a short pass on the 49ers 15, left three defenders grasping for air, plowed through two more and carried a few others down to the one. 8 (11) Bengals 7-5-0 Is it a reach to compare this year's Bengals to last year's Super Bowl champion Steelers? Both had three-game losing streaks. Both had two runs of three or more straight wins. And both were 7-5 after 12 games. 9 (8) Seahawks 8-4-0 The Seahawks are 5-0 this year when both Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander are in the starting lineup. That's not to suggest they'd be undefeated with them together for all 12 games, but it's clear the Seahawks are back among the NFC's elite. 10 (13) Jaguars 7-5-0 Doesn't look like the Jags miss Byron Leftwich. In the past two weeks, David Garrard threw two TDs and finished with a QB rating of 100 or better. Garrard's 136.4 rating against the Dolphins was a career best. 11 (14) Jets 7-5-0 For most of the season people have written the Jets' record off as a product of a weak schedule. While the weak schedule part is true, the Jets are also a pretty good team. If they make the playoffs they're not going to be an easy out. 12 (7) Chiefs 7-5-0 Just a terrible loss by the Chiefs against the Browns. In the tough AFC, you can't afford to lose games like that. 13 (9) Broncos 7-5-0 Obviously you have to be patient with a rookie QB like Jay Cutler. But the Broncos are battling for their playoff lives and patience might not get it done. 14 (18) Falcons 6-6-0 Weird. The Falcons started going to Algee Crumpler more -- and Roddy White less -- and the Falcons' passing game suddenly looks much, much better. 15 (15) Giants 6-6-0 With basically all the other wild-card hopefuls losing, the Giants are still in good shape for a playoff berth. 16 (23) Titans 5-7-0 Less than 90 minutes after kicking a game-winning 60-yard FG to beat the Colts, Rob Bironas brought an entourage of 10 people to the exact spot on the Titans' logo at midfield to take some pictures. That's cool. 17 (22) Eagles 6-6-0 Gotta love the NFC. Just one win and a team that was essentially left for dead is right back in the playoff race. 18 (12) Panthers 6-6-0 The record sums up the Panthers pretty well. They're 6-6. They're .500. They just plain average. 19 (24) Steelers 5-7-0 Only last-second Tampa Bay FG keeps Steelers becoming first Pittsburgh team since 1957 to get shutout one week and then pitch a shutout the next week. 20 (16) Dolphins 5-7-0 Well, so much for running the table. The Dolphins can still cause some problems down the stretch, but the playoffs aren't part of the picture anymore. :up: 21 (19) Bills 5-7-0 At 5-7 the Bills are essentially out of the playoff hunt. But a strong finish is still important and would build a lot of momentum heading to next season. But can Dick Jauron convince his players of that?
